Are camels dangerous? Animal attack kills two people near Tennessee petting zoo, prompts response from PETA

Two people have been pronounced dead after being attacked by a loose camel. The incident took place near a Tennessee petting zoo on Friday. Authorities stated that they put the camel down “for the safety of everyone on scene.”

On Thursday afternoon, the Obion County Sheriff’s Office mentioned that they had received reports of the animal on the loose, attacking people. The animal was reportedly attacking those near the Shirley Farms petting zoo.

Sheriff Karl Jackson stated that deputies found two victims unconscious on the ground upon their arrival on the scene. The animal continued to look vicious as deputies arrived at the scene.

The dispatcher received a call about the attack. In the audio obtained by CBS News, they said:

“two 911 calls of two people being viciously attacked by a camel at Shirley Farms.”

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Are camels dangerous?

Considering the animal’s physique, they can be potentially very dangerous. They are big and bulky animals who usually weigh nearly 1350 lbs. They also have incredible strength. On average, they can carry 1000 lbs for 25 miles straight.

Though the animal is large, it is not vicious as it is not in their genes to hunt. Wild Explained reported that they do not hunt anybody by their instincts alone.

When provoked by humans, they can attack them if they are irritated. They can lift a person with their mouth and throw them down aggressively. The same has happened in the past.

The men attacked in Tennessee were named Bobby Matheny and Tommy Gunn. They were 42 and 67 years old, respectively. It is unclear whether the two worked at the petting zoo or were visiting it.

Tony Bargery, a family friend of the petting zoo owners, spoke about the tragic incident. He said:

“It’s not something that happens all the time out there. I take my grandkids out there all the time. One of them liked to play with that camel a lot. This is something that was a tragedy for our community.”

Regarding the incident, Debbie Metzler, PETA’s Associate Director for Captive Animal Law Enforcement, said that PETA would track facilities where there are instances that people “need to be aware of. Your lives could be at risk by going to a roadside zoo.”